MESSI MISERY
Argentina face early exit after hammering by classy Croatia
When the brutal indignity of it all had ended, Lionel Messi was first to leave the pitch. he walked with his head down, casting just the briefest look behind him to be sure that others were following, because it was nothing less than an embarrassment — a display of tactical and technical ineptitude which leaves Argentina’s presence here in extreme peril and could mark the end of a generation.
They are likely to be eliminated next week if Iceland defeat nigeria today. But the inquisition into how a generation of gilded players has failed to lift silverware will run for years, along with the question of why a manager so tactically unsuited to their talents came to be installed.
not since a 6-1 defeat to Czechoslovakia in 1958 have Argentina lost so heavily in the group stage of a World Cup. But never have they suffered embarrassment quite like this.
‘First and foremost, I beg for the fans’ forgiveness,’ said manager Jorge Sampaoli. ‘The reality of the Argentina squad clouds Lionel Messi’s brillance. The team doesn’t gel as well as it should.
‘I have always looked for the best position on the pitch for my players. The players have a special responsibility, as well, but we didn’t manage to find relationships that Argentina or Messi benefited from.’
Sampaoli added: ‘Croatia are an excellent team but, after we conceded, we lost our way and we were emotionally broken. We could not change the course of events.
‘Some players probably didn’t adjust to the formation. I am very hurt by the defeat but I probably didn’t understand the match as I should have. I am responsible.’
There had been the usual wild Argentinian bombast on the planes, the trains and the streets of this city all day, though it masked some existential questions about an ageing team which has not won a trophy of any description for 25 years and is being led by a coach whose pressing ethos runs against the nature of the players.
Messi’s individual struggle and penalty miss in the opening draw against Mexico has been the source of such a national inquisition that his mother has taken it upon herself to speak for him this week.
If it is true, as they say, that he has been withdrawn in these past days, then it did not take long for his worst fears about the Argentina team to be confirmed.
The logic behind Sampaoli’s three-man defence was that width would be generated to help the talisman. Instead, it exposed them as defensively inept, opening vast spaces in the wide areas for their opponents to exploit.
The nervous tension bordered on blind panic in the first half hour, in which they would have conceded twice had not Croatia’s finishing been equally grim.
With Diego Maradona, Sampaoli’s arch-critic, gesticulating up in the stands, the right wing-back eduardo Salvio was nowhere to be found in the opening minutes as Ivan Perisic raced down the left and dispatched a shot which Willy Caballero palmed away.
Better opportunities than that were spurned, with the backline oblivious to the black jerseys racing in behind them.
Croatia’s own defence hardly looked indestructible. enzo Perez was given free sight of goal after Domagoj Vida headed straight into his path and fired wide.
But with Messi and Sergio Aguero bystanders, this looked a desperately poor team and the first half concluded with holes opening up all over the place.
The goal, when it eventually came, was as pitiful as the performance from Sampaoli’s men.
Caballero’s own anxiety had revealed itself early on as he played out weakly to an unsuspecting nicolas Tagliafico, who was nearly charged down by Mario Mandzukic.
But what transpired on 53 minutes was catastrophic as the Chelsea goalkeeper received a backpass and attempted to dink a return pass to Gabriel Mercado. he succeeded only in teeing it up for Ante Rebic, who spun and sent an imperious, dipping volley over the keeper’s head.
Rebic should have been dismissed soon afterwards for a dreadful challenge on Salvio and he was substituted because of it.
The breakthrough did finally bring a fleeting vim to Argentina’s game. Gonzalo Higuain came on for Aguero, who had been anonymous, and there was the trademark Messi slalom run down the left side of the Croatia box just beyond the hour.
Then Higuain, making an immediate impression, cut back a ball that Enzo Perez laid into the left side of the area. Maxi Meza made a half connection, Danijel Subasic saved with his knees and Messi was almost able to pounce before the ball ran out of play.
But Argentina now found themselves up against the dimension which they most palpably lack — a muscular defensive shield. There were many Croatia heroes in this famous victory, but Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic were chief among them.
The game had ten minutes to run when Modric put it beyond all doubt. Yet again, there was no defensive cover where the right wing-back should have been and the ball was delivered square for the Real Madrid midfielder, who drifted easily inside and with his second touch arced a shot low to Cabellero’s left.
There was still time for Rakitic to curl a free-kick on to the bar and then to race through the space where a South American defence should have been, exchange passes with Mateo Kovacic and tap in a third.
Sheer ecstasy for Croatia. But, for Argentina, an era-defining and era-ending defeat for this vanquished side.
ARGENTINA (3-4-3): Caballero 4; Tagliafico 4, Otamendi 5, Mercado 4.5; Acuna 4, Mascherano 5.5, Perez 6 (Dybala 68min, 6), Salvio 6 (Pavon 56, 5.5); Meza 6, Aguero 5.5 (Higuain 54, 5), Messi 6. Booked: Mercado, Otamendi, Acuna. Manager: Jorge Sampaoli 4. CROATIA (4-2-3-1): Subasic 6.5; Vrsaljko 6, Lovren 7.5, Vida 7, Strinic 6.5; MODRIC 8, Rakitic 7.5; Rebic 6 (Kramaric 57, 6), Brozovic 6.5; Perisic 7.5 (Kovacic 82); Mandzukic 6.5 (Corluka 90). Scorers: Rebic 53, Modric 80, Rakitic 90+1. Booked: Rebic, Mandzukic, Vrsaljko, Corluka. Manager: Zlatko Dalic 7. Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan) 6. Attendance: 43,319.